Coffee Break: City seeks mansion developer

A nationwide search is expected to be under way this spring for a developer for Victorian Village's long-vacant, city-owned James Lee House.

The Center City Development Corp. board voted Wednesday to spend up to $2,500 to advertise a request for proposals for the mansion at 690 Adams.

Officials plan to promote the development opportunity for four to six months through such outlets as the Urban Land Institute, National Trust for Historic Preservation, International Downtown Association and Greater Memphis Chamber.

The City Council has final say on the project.

Solar Institute offers free training

The Tennessee Solar Institute will host a free, six-day training course at the University of Memphis next week for businesses or people wanting to learn the basics of solar installation and photovoltaic technology.

The courses begin Monday at U of M's Fogelman Conference Center at 330 Innovation Drive. The classes run from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. each day.

Courses will focus on photovoltaic history and its market developments and solar concepts and terminology among others.

To register, contact Jackie Ervin at the Tennessee Career Center at (901) 545-2846.

Morgan Keegan ranks No. 9

Morgan Keegan ranked as the nation's ninth-leading underwriter of municipal bonds last year, according to Thomson Reuters, a municipal bond information service.

The Memphis-based investment bank was book running manager on 751 issues with a par amount of $13.4 billion.